Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; strong durable plants; freely flowering habit; dark violet blue-colored flowers with purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period and strong re-flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 1201’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant,botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to asLavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants withgood performance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in May, 2011 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 16,685, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Lavandula stoechas identified as code number 105, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandulaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’ as a newand distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Strong durable plants.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark violet blue-colored flowers with purple-colored terminal        flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles.    -   6. Long flowering period and strong re-flowering habit.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Anouk’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact than plants of        ‘Anouk’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula flower for a longer period of        time and have a stronger re-flowering habit than plants of        ‘Anouk’.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in terminal flower bract color as plants of the maleparent selection have pink-colored terminal flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandulastoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 14/999,140. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are denser than plants of ‘Anouk        Deluxe 173’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’ differ in        terminal flower bract color as plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’ have        purple violet-colored terminal flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of theLavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differprimarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact and denser than        plants of ‘Toscane’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula flower for a longer period of        time and have a stronger re-flowering habit than plants of        ‘Toscane’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detaileddescription were grown in 12-cm containers during the spring and earlysummer in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plantswere ten months old when the photographs and description were taken.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C.to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 20° C. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 1201’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula            stoechas identified as code number 105, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color            and becoming more brown with development; actual color of            the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizer type and formulation.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and            upright plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy            appearance; low to moderately vigorous growth habit; flowers            arranged in verticillasters on crowded spikes with showy            terminal flower bracts.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 21.7            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 28.3 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About 110            lateral branches developing per plant. Length: About 5.3 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to somewhat outwardly.            Texture and luster: Moderately tomentose; matte. Color:            Close to 144B to 144C; pubescence, close to 157D.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 3.7 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly            lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;            revolute. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately tomentose; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic,            pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,            close to 145A to 145B; pubescence, close to 191D. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 145A; pubescence, close to 191D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform            flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded            terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 170 flowers            developing per inflorescence and more than 10,000 flowers            developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and            three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly to            slightly upright on the spike; inflorescences with showy            terminal flower bracts.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous            from late spring into late summer in The Netherlands; strong            re-flowering habit.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about            ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Narrowly oblong. Texture and luster: Moderately            tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 144D; towards the apex,            tinged with close to N187B.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter, at terminal flower bracts.—About 2.3            cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter, below flower bracts.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 9.5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and            lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 9 mm.            Length, lower lip: About 8 mm. Width, upper lip: About 3 mm.            Width, lower lip: About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly spatulate;            lower 68% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse, rounded. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer)            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper (inner) surface: Close to            N92A; color does not fade with development; throat, close to            86A, towards the base, close to NN155D. When opening and            fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Close to N92A; color            does not fade with development; tube, close to 86A, towards            the base, close to NN155D.        -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About four            to six positioned upright at inflorescence apex. Length:            About 2.3 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex:            Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; moderately            undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Slightly tomentose (minute hairs); matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to N79D; pubescence, close to NN155D. Color,            lower surface: Close to N79C; pubescence, close to NN155D.        -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of            ten flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.            Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Broadly            rhomboidal. Apex: Aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            tomentose; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 185C to            185D; venation, close to 147A; pubescence, close to NN155A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 185C to 185D; venation, close            to 200C; pubescence, close to NN155A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a            campanulate tube. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 0.75 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper (inner) and            lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 144D; towards the apex,            tinged with close to N187B; pubescence, close to NN155C to            NN155D. Fully opened, upper (inner) and lower (outer)            surfaces: Close to 144D; towards the apex, tinged with close            to N187C; pubescence, close to NN155C to NN155D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and            luster: Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 144D;            towards the apex, tinged with close to 148A and 148B;            pubescence, close to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 0.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to N92A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 17B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma            color: Close to N92A. Style length: About 2.5 mm. Style            color: Close to 157B to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 143B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Lavandula.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate high    temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe1201’ as illustrated and described.